Children forced into prostitution

MEDAN, North Sumatra: A notorious pimp on Tanjungbalai Karimun island, Riau, has recruited hundreds of girls aged under 17 into her prostitution den, according to local reports.

Three girls recently rescued from the brothel by their families said Monday that most of the sex workers they knew were victims of labor brokers who promised them well-paid jobs in certain companies.

One of those rescued from the brothel was a 16-year old girl from Medan, whose parents had to pay the pimp Rp 800,000 ($80) to get her back last week after she worked for the pimp for two weeks.

She said she was forced to work as a prostitute in a motel owned by the pimp she identified only as Merry.

"I was placed in a glass 'display room' together with about 200 other women," she said, adding that the pimp ran several such rooms.

Each client paid Rp 150,000 for sex, Rp 80,000 of which went to the pimp, she said.

The rescued girl added that she was first accommodated in a brothel owned by a pimp in Medan she identified as Mrs. Dewi, who then shipped her to Tanjungbalai Karimun. (21/prb)